Market Decode: Is impact investing right for you?

The idea of impact investing has been around for several decades, but it used to mainly involve "negative screening," or avoiding investments in companies and industries whose products or practices you didn't agree with. It has changed a lot since then: today, impact investing can be thought of as investing in companies, organizations and funds with the intention of generating social and environmental impact as well as financial returns.

As of 2017, more than 1,000 investment funds — including mutual funds and exchange-traded funds — had incorporated ESG (environmental, social and governance) factors into their investment process, up from just 55 funds in 1995Footnote 1. And more and more companies are responding to growing investor interest. As the graphic below shows, in 2011, only 20% of companies in the S&P 500 published annual reports on their ESG performance and practices. In 2017, that number had jumped to 85%Footnote 2.

What's more, recent research suggests that investors don't have to sacrifice long-term growth when investing for impact. "There is growing data showing that impact investing may potentially produce long-term returns that are as good as, or even better than, traditional investing," says Jackie VanderBrug, investment strategist and co-chair of the Impact Investing Council at Bank of America Global Wealth and Investment Management, in the above video.

"It just makes sense," she adds. "Companies that are driving efficiency in water, waste and energy can help lower their costs, and better workplace policies may lead to more employee engagement and stronger revenues over the long-term."

Impact investing and/or Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) managers may take into consideration factors beyond traditional financial information to select securities, which could result in relative investment performance deviating from other strategies or broad market benchmarks, depending on whether such sectors or investments are in or out of favor in the market. Further, ESG strategies may rely on certain values based criteria to eliminate exposures found in similar strategies or broad market benchmarks, which could also result in relative investment performance deviating.

S&P 500 Index includes a representative sample of 500 leading companies in leading industries of the U.S. economy. Although the index focuses on the large-cap segment of the market, with approximately 75% coverage of U.S. equities, it is also an ideal proxy for the total market.

This material was prepared by the Chief Investment Office (CIO) and is not a publication of BofA Merrill Lynch Global Research. The views expressed are those of the CIO only and are subject to change. This information should not be construed as investment advice. It is presented for information purposes only and is not intended to be either a specific offer by any Merrill Lynch or Bank of America Private Bank entity to sell or provide, or a specific invitation for a consumer to apply for, any particular retail financial product or service that may be available.

Global Wealth & Investment Management (GWIM) is a division of Bank of America Corporation. Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, Merrill Edge®, Bank of America Private Bank, and Bank of America Merrill Lynch are affiliated sub-divisions within GWIM. The Chief Investment Office, which provides investment strategies, due diligence, portfolio construction guidance and wealth management solutions for GWIM clients, is part of the Investment Solutions Group (ISG) of GWIM.

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